Discharge planning
If you will need care after discharge, our team of case managers, social workers and geriatric service professionals is available to provide coordinated referral services.

Contact our Case Managers at (908) 859-6749 to help you and your family make arrangements for home health nursing; homemakers; respiratory home care; durable medical equipment; home physical, speech and/or occupational therapy; home intravenous (I.V.) medication administration; or Meals on Wheels.

Contact our Social Workers at (908) 859-6749 to help you and your family make arrangements for hospice care; nursing home placement; rehabilitation; community financial assistance programs including PAAD, Rent Assistance and Medicaid; counseling, guardianship, or advance directives; assistance for HIV patients and for the homeless; or social work for emergency department patients.

If you are age 65 or older, you and your family may contact our Geriatric Services Department at (908) 859-6722 for help with outpatient geriatric assessment; Senior Link case management; mental status testing; advance directives counseling for those age 65 and older; ethics issues; adult day health services; or transportation to the hospital and Commerce Center.

Utilization Review
The appropriateness of admission and the progress of each patient is monitored by the hospital’s Utilization Review process to ensure that unnecessary admissions and prolonged hospital stays are avoided. Medicare, Medicaid, HMOs, Blue Cross, AETNA and other insurance programs do not pay for hospitalization of patients who can be treated equally well in alternative health care settings outside the hospital.

If it is determined that you no longer require the full range of acute care services provided by the hospital, your physician will be notified. We are required by the state of New Jersey to follow this procedure strictly. We will make every effort to help you with discharge planning and can assist you in arranging for convalescence in an extended care facility or at home, assisted by community agencies.

Talk to Your Doctor
You and your doctor know more about your condition and your health needs than anyone else. Decisions about your medical treatment should be made between you and your doctor. If you have questions about your medical treatment, your need to continue hospital care, your discharge, or your need for possible post-hospital care, do not hesitate to ask your doctor. The Warren Hospital patient visitor or social worker will also help you with your questions and concerns about available hospital services.

Discharge
Your physician will tell you when you are to be discharged. Please arrange to check out before 11:00 a.m. The person who will be taking you home should check in at the nursing station. A staff member will escort you to the main entrance.

Hospital Charges

MANAGED CARE CONTRACTS
Warren Hospital and a number of managed care companies (HMOs) have contracts agreeing to certain fees for specific services.

If you have insurance coverage through an HMO, you must follow their regulations for pre-certification of hospitalization. If you do not follow your HMO’s requirements, you may be responsible for full or partial payment of your hospital bill.

SEPARATE BILLING
You will receive a separate bill from each physician who provides services to you. In some instances, you will not have personal contact with this physician who monitors examinations and provides a written report to your physician. One example is the radiologist who interprets your X-rays. Other physician services you may have received include the emergency room, electrocardiogram (EKG), electroencephalogram (EEG), pulmonary function, laboratory and anesthesiology.

If you have a question regarding any of these bills, it should be directed to the physician who provided the service. Conveniences such as telephone and television will be billed separately. If you request a private room and one is available, a deposit will be requested upon admission.